The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-12-21
ROYAL BANQUET.
Fort Benton Citizens Testify Their Appre-
citation of official Duties Honestly and
Well Performed.

The board Of county commissioners as
cAmbled Thursday evening at o'clock for
the purpose of concluding the labors of
their final session. While busily employ
ed at the task one after another OF Ben
toms prominent citizens dropped into the
county clerks Office until quite compa-
nv had assembled. That some matter OF
Importance was about to occur was evil
dent. but the smiling faces and genial de-
portment of all led, to the certain conclu-
sion, that strife, enmity and rivalry, un-
less the latter might result from the gen
erous impulse Of hospitality, were for the
moment banished and forgotten. Just
before the duties of the board were con-
cluded County Attorney S. IL. Mclntlre
arose and spoke as follows: "Mr. Chair
man: AS your duties are about conclud-
INC and before you separate to your sever |
al places Of residence, wish in the name
of the business men and the tax payers OF
Choteau county to express the apprecia-
ton they feel of your faithful dis
charge of the trust that has been placed
in your hands. That you have we'll and
truly performed your duties is shown by
the following statement which l have
been requested to read" The gentleman
then produced formidable looking docu
ment which contained the following fiat
tering testimonial:
JTgprr PrrDrrOJ Tlnnamhar IA. 1881
To the Hon. r. S. Ford and CbGS. Veg
uer. Chairman and Member Of the
Board of County Commissioners OF
ChOteGU County:
The undersigned tax payers of Choteau
county present this as testimonial OF
their appreciation of the faithful and able
services rendered to them by you during
YOUR term of office We thank you for the
able and substantial effort you have put
forth to secure reduction Of the county
debt from S115,98 on March LIST, 1885, to
S96.5OO on March LIST, 1887, at the same
time reducing the tax levy from 16 mills
in 1885 to IA mills in 1887, thereby making
net saving to the tax payers OF S3O,2|O
During your administration the floating
debt of 7,819 has been paid off, and war
rants that sold in 1885 for 80 cents on the
dollar now bring par.
AS an appreciation of your wise admin
istration we respectfully express the hope
that before the effective operation of re-
cent legislation whereby you are legislated
out of our county, you will SO arrange
your residence that you may continue to
give to the people of Choteau county the
benefit of your valuable experience, broad
minded, liberal policy sterling integrity
and what is of vaster Importance an un-
finchlng determination to do your whole
duty. (Slgned,)
w. q. CONRAD DAVID G. Brow NE
T. G. BAKER d Go. CANS & KLEIN
T. G. Power & Bro. Jos. SULLIVAN
MURPHY. MAcLAY M. A. FLANAGAN
CHAs. Rowe T. A. CUMMINGS
JERE SULLIVAN THos CLARY
H !. WACKERLIN AND MANY OTHERS.
"Gentlemen," continued the speaker,
"it has been the custom among the peo-
pie of Benton to express their kindly feel
ing. toward their friends in the old time
fashion, and as prescribed by the laws OF
hospitality. It is my pleasant duty to IN
yite your attendance at banquet to be
given il your honor this evening at the
Grand Union hotel"
The commissioners were somewhat star
tied at this sudden denoument, but an
nounced their acceptance Of the invita-
ton.
A moment later Judge Tattan arose.
and in moving that the above Testimonial
be spread upon the records of the board
took occasion to pay glowing tribute to
the efficiency and faithful regard for duty
these gentlemen had shown during their
administration of county affairs. That
be had differed with them in many mat
tiers was not to be denied; that they had
made many mistakes he did not doubts
but that they had discharged their trust
honestly, truly and ably was admitted by
all. No man was infallible in judgment
an were human, but the present. boaro
had made record Of which they might
be Justly proud, and for which the county
tax payers had occasion to be grateful.
Chairman Ford and Mr.. Wegner ex
pressed thanks and qualification at the
unexpected pleasure the people Of Bentor
had accorded them in this unlocked for ex
preston Of sentiment, and soon after the
board adjourned.
THE SPREAD
was laid at the Grand Union and was
worthy the occasion and the finest hote
building in Montana. The long table
about which the guests gathered groanec
beneath the weight of tempting ane
toothsome dainties which in artistic ar
rangement not only delighted the eye bu
tempted the appetite. After doing ful
justice to the substantial pleasures OF tn